RK Gupta Questions the Future of Blum After Smerkis’ Arrest

On May 18, prominent crypto influencer and Elite Crypto Tool co-founder RK Gupta questioned the Blum airdrop after  Vladimir Smerkis’ arrest.  Vladimir Smerkis is a former chief marketing officer and co-founder of the blockchain game Blum. Today morning, he was arrested in Moscow on fraud charges. The arrest has triggered serious concerns across the Blum community. Especially after a long silence from the team regarding airdrops and project updates. Let’s get to know the full details on Vladimir Smerkis’ arrest and the future of Blum. 

Vladimir Smerkis Arrested in Moscow on Fraud Charges

This week, Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court ordered the detention of Vladimir Smerkis. He is a well-known name in the crypto space as a former head of Binance’s CIS division. Russian authorities have yet to disclose the specifics of the fraud allegations. However, Smerkis’s arrest has added to growing concerns around tap-to-earn blockchain platforms and their long-term credibility.

Blum, the crypto game associated with Smerkis, quickly distanced itself from the controversy. In an official statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Blum clarified:

 “Vladimir Smerkis has stepped down from his role as CMO and is no longer involved in the development of the project or in any co-founder capacity.” This public statement was made shortly after news of the arrest surfaced, as users demanded clarity on the project’s future.

RK Gupta Reacts: “Was It All for Nothing?”

RK Gupta, a noted crypto influencer and co-founder of Elite Crypto Tool, took to X to express his frustration. In response to Blum’s statement, Gupta posted:

“Blum co-founder arrested in Russia. We tapped every day for that airdrop. Now the co-founder is gone? Vladimir Smerkis was arrested for fraud. The team says he’s no longer part of $BLUM. No airdrop. No updates. Just silence. Was it all for nothing?”

His reaction resonated with thousands of users who participated in Blum’s tap-to-earn campaign. Many people hope to gain real value from their engagement. The post quickly went viral, sparking further scrutiny of the blockchain on news platforms.  RK Gupta’s concerns highlight the loss of trust among users who supported Blum during its rise. The lack of transparency and updates has only fueled doubts. Leading to the project’s legitimacy and future.

Blum Distances Itself from Vladimir Smerkis

Following Vladimir Smerkis’ arrest, Blum’s team issued a firm statement to separate the project from the ongoing legal case. While Smerkis played a significant role in the initial development of Blum. However, the team insists that he is no longer associated with the platform in any way. Blum gained popularity during the “tap-to-earn trend”, where players tapped snowflakes on their screens to earn in-game currency. The app promised future conversions of these digital tokens into real money. However, with Smerkis’s arrest and the project’s silence regarding token redemption or further development. The community now questions whether those promises will ever be fulfilled.

What’s Next for the Blum Project?

As of now, the team behind blockchain Blum has maintained that day-to-day operations continue as normal. Hence, users are calling for more transparency, especially regarding the long-awaited airdrop and the utility of their in-game earnings. With growing media coverage and public demand for answers, the team must address concerns with greater clarity. The Vladimir Smerkis arrest has not only raised legal and ethical questions but also placed a spotlight on the risks of influencer-backed crypto projects. If Blum intends to survive this crisis, it must rebuild user trust with consistent communication and proof of progress.